Improvement in motor-engines



UNITED STATES PATENT Orron.

THOMAS D. RICHARDSON, NORTH PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT m MOTOR-ENGINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,865, dated April15, 1873; application filed December 10, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAs D. RICHARD- SON, of North Providence, in thecounty of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new andImproved Motor-Engine, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanyingdrawing like letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section, with the wheel inperspective. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section.

The parts of my invention may be thus described: Ais the externalcovering or case, inclosing the working parts of the mechanism. It isprovided with two pipes, B and O, for the supply and discharge of thewater, respectively. From the supply-pipe B rises a conduit or flume, D,which is bent in a circular or serpentine form, and entirely surroundsthe wheel E. This conduit is of the same width throughout, but itsheight continually and regularly diminishes until the top and bottom ofit meet together. On the inner surface, throughout the entire length, atregular intervals, are ports or jets F F, which open into the conduit atan angle, to conduct the water to the wheel and yet not to break itsforce. The wheel revolves upon its axle G, the ends of which rest uponthe journal-bearings H in the outer case. Upon the periphery of thewheel, at short and regular intervals are concavo-convex buckets m w,the shape of which is shown in Fig. 1. They are set at an angle and insuch a manner as to present, both vertically and horizontally, a concavesurface toward their corresponding ports. The water, striking againstthese, is discharged at the sides of the wheel into the outer case, asindicated in Fig. 1, and thence through the waste-pipe G. A flywheel orgearing, I, is placed upon the end of the spindle G, andoperates theconnected machinery. The whole mechanism may rest upon a pillar, J,within which are concealed the water-pipes. The outer case may beplated, or otherwise ornamented. The water enters the feed-pipe at acertain pressure, as the case may be, and though its volume isconstantly reduced by so much as passes through the ports in itsprogress, the pressure does not decrease, because it is exerted in aspace correspondingly smaller, and so is the same in power at the lastport as at the first of the series. The diminishing size of the flume,

from its beginning to its end, secures a uniformity of pressure throughthe entire length, which would not be the case if the conduit were ofuniform size throughout. The water flows in a continuous current throughevery port at the same time, and strikes against every bucket of thewheel with the same pressure on all sides, thereby reducing friction inthe revolution of the wheel. Being discharged upon the wheel in themiddle of the buckets, it there diverges toward each side, and exhaustsits power against the concave surfaces, until it flows out into the caseand through the waste-pipe. The wheel, being buried in water, receivespressure at every point along all its buckets at the same time. Thewheel is constructed so as to fit closely in its chamber, and, workingupon the true center throughout the bore, permits no water to pass untilit exhausts the power of it. The flow can be regulated in the usual way,and any power or speed can be obtained.

The outer case, with the conduit and pipes, may be cast in two equalparts, as shown in Fig. 2. The wheel should be made of metal, hollow,and water-tight, so as to be buoyant, and thus reduce friction. If it isdesired to use steam as a motive power, the buckets should be shallowerand nearer together.

By such a wheel, a cheap and efficient motive power can be obtained byconnecting with the pipes of our city water-works, and which will beavailable for all the lighter mechanical operations, to drivesewing-machines, lathes, fans, and the like. If made of large size, andreceiving power from a water-fall, or from steam, it is competent tomove the heavier machinery of mills. But it is chiefly useful asfurnishing a convenient and ever-ready power for domestic purposes,light manufactures, and the more delicate kinds of machine-work. Forthese purposes its compactness and economy are perfectly adapted.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by LettersPatent 1. The wheel E, with its concavo-eonvex its coneavo-eonvexbuckets ac 5v and axle G,- Q buckets m .00, arranged as shown. the caseA with its feed-pipe B, and waste-pipe 2. ThediminishingconduitD,withits series 0, all made and. nsed substantially as (1e: 7

of ports F F, and surrounding the eircumferscribed.

enee of a wheel, for the purpose of diseharg- THOMAS D. RICHARDSON.- ingwater or steam upon the same. Witnesses:

3. The combination of the diminishing con- THOMAS G. GREENE, duit D withits ports F F, the wheel E with BENJAMIN M. BoswoRTH, Jr.

